Canadian hemp grain producers continued to dominate the U.S. market for hempseed-based products in 2024, shipping material valued at roughly $55 million over the northern border, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The total, which includes food seed, oilcake and hempseed oil, was flat against imports recorded for 2023.
Canadian producers shipped in $46.2 million worth of food seed, $5.9 million in oilcake and $3.3 million in hempseed oil, with most of the supplies coming from the province of Manitoba ($52 million), according to a final USDA report from last year.
For context, U.S. hemp grain production in 2023 was estimated at just $2.3 million, according to a separate USDA report that tracks domestic production. (NASS)
Total U.S. food seed imports reached $47.9 million in 2024. Far behind Canada among the top five grain importers were: Romania, $553,000; China, $434,000; France, $271,000; and Paraguay, $250,000.
Dutch planting seed
The Netherlands led all exporters of hemp sowing seed to the U.S., shipping $3.6 million of the total $4.8 million recorded last year. Other top cultivation seed exporters to the U.S. were Spain with $472,000, France with $483,750, China with $244,590, and Australia with $239,915.
Imports of hemp textile materials in two categories totaled roughly $2.0 million. Yarn imports were valued at $1.2 million with roughly $800,000 coming from Romania and $273,000 from China. Fabric imports were $989,000, with more than half of that ($599,000) coming from China. Italy shipped fabrics worth $284,000.
Twine imports totaled $2.6 million, with more than 99% of that coming from the Philippines.
Analysis is limited
Last year was the second year for the import reports, which are produced weekly. Compiled by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the reports mark the first government data analysis dedicated solely to imported hemp commodities, but do not include hemp flowers, hurd or technical fibers. In addition to import data, the reports track retail advertised prices for seed-based products such as whole and hulled seeds, protein powder and hemp seed oil, nationally and by region.
Hemp import volumes to the U.S. are minuscule, but still may hint at how industry business relationships are shaping up around the world.
The weekly reports complement an annual National Hemp Report started by USDA two years ago that queries more than 20,000 hemp producers across the nation to determine planted acreage, harvest figures, and crop values. That report put the total value of domestically produced hemp at $258 million in 2023, with income from flowers $241 million; fiber, $11.6 million; and grain $2.3 million.